Lift type draft unit



Sept. 23, 1952 M. DE laAlRos LIFT TYPE DRAFT UNIT Original Filed Aug. 12, 1946 2 E Q K INVENTOR Man ueLDea ros ATTORNEYS M. DE BAIROS LIFT TYPE DRAFT UNIT Sept. 23, 1952 y2 Simms-SHEET 2 original Filed Aug. `12, 194e INVENTOR Man u el .De .Ba zlos ATTORNEYS -Patented Sept. 23,` 1952 UNITED v STATES @WISE y, f 2,611,302f-1 .i Lis'rfrYrE DRAFT Unir Y `Manuel Deairos, Caruthers, Calif. v n continuation lofapplication'sir-.nai No. scacco,

August 12, 1946. y This' application June. 21, 1948,-Seria1lNoa3441 .l v v This invention is directed to, and it` is an-object to provide, a novel structure for connecting earth Working implements to a wheel tractor in vertically adjustable and draft relation: the structure being relatively simpleybut rugged, and designed so that maintenance and repair vis minimized.

The present application is a continuation, as to al1 common subject matter, of application, Serial No. 690,033, filed August 1.2',y 1946, now

abandoned. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an implement lift and draft unit arranged so that the draft is taken on the tractor, by a novel draft assembly, at a point ahead of the rear wheels whereby relatively great power may be applied to the supported, ground engagingtools without any tendency to overturn the tractor rearwardly, but on the contrary the traction thereof is increased.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an implement lift and-draft unit, which incorporates a novel lift assembly for'causing raisingor lowering of the supported tools from or into .the ground, such lift assembly being controlled, readily and easily, by the operator from his seat onthe tractor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel mechanical arrangement forl adjusting the tool .bar with respect to the draft arms.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical implement lift and draft unit, and

' 1 claim. (or. era-4t ifi one which will be exceedingly effective for the ypurpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by meansv of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings;

Fig-1 is a side elevation of a wheel tractor embodying the implement lift and draft unit, with theU supported tools lowered into ground working position.

Fig. 2. isan enlarged perspective view of the implement lift andv draft unit detached from the tractor. f

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the implement lift and draft unit comprises a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced draft beams I adapted to extend under 'the rear axle of a wheeled tractor 2 adjacent but laterally inwardly of its rear wheels 3. The forward end portions of the draft beams I project some dis- 2 tance ahead of the wheels Band are pivotally connected, as at 4, to rigid brackets 5 which are fixed in connection with-, and depend from, the side beams 6 of the frame of said tractor.y

The. forward portion of the: draft Ibeams I extend from their pivots` 4 atea slight downward and rearward slope,l whilethe rear portions are substantially horizontal; said rear' portions of thedraft beams. I extending rearwardly, of the wheels 3 and being securedin connection with a transverselyextendingtool bar l, and ground working tools 8 of any desired-type being mounted in connection Ywith the tool bar by means of standards 9. i

The following mechanicalarrangementis ernployed to adjustably mount theI tool bar 'I in connection with the draft beams I.

At opposite ends the tool `bari` is secured in `clamping` blocks I0 havingy longitudinallyadbeing secured to. the -latter by longitudinally spaced bolts .I2 and I3. The. bolts I2 act as pivots, and the bolts I3 engage selectivelythrough vertically spaced holes |301.A When thel bolts I2 are loosened and bolts. I3 removed,the.: arms II are vertically swingably adjustable to alter: the

rotative' position of tool baril., and: consequently the working angle of the. toolset'.

By taking the draftx'of theztractor' on the beams I at a point some distance ahead' of the wheels 3,.there is no tendency of thetractor y2 tooverturn-rearward1y,.and thetraction thereof ismaterially improved. The described draftl assembly, therefore, is quite advantageous that` relatively. great power can be.. imparted to thetools 8 without difficulty; I v

The draft assembly, including the beams I and associated parts, is vertically adjustable Vor liftable through the medium ofthe following liftr assembly:

- Across shaft I4 is disposed rearwardlyof the tractor above the draft .beams- I, butshortof the vertical transverse plane ofv` the rear ends thereof; said cross shaft I4 being turnably sup- .ported .by bearing arms Idxe'd in connection with corresponding rear endportions I6- of the tractor frame.

A pair of diagonally braced bellcranks, indicated generally at II, are fixed on elongated bearing sleeves I8 turnable on the cross shaft I4, between the bearing arms I5, in adjacent end to end engagement; the bellcranks being thus located in substantially vertical alinement with corresponding ones of the draft beams I. The bellcranks I1 each include a rearwardly projecting leg I9 and an upwardly projecting leg '20; said bellcranks being arranged in parallelism transversely of the implement.

Suspension links 2I pivotally connect the rear ends of the bellcrank legs I9 and corresponding draft beams I, whereby rotary motion of said bellcranks is converted into vertical swinging motion of the draft beams I.

A pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending lift control rods 22 are each fitted, at their rear ends, with afclevis 23 pivoted in connection with the upper end of the leg 2U of the corresponding bellcrank I1. From the legs the lift control rods 22 extend at a forward and downward incline adjacent but laterally inwardly of the wheels 3, terminating a short distance ahead of the latter. The lower end portions of the lift control rods 22 are fitted with longitudinally spaced, adjustable stop collars 24 and 25. A sleeve 26 is 'slidable on each lift control rod 21 between the collars 24 and 25, and a loaded, heavy-duty compression spring 21 surrounds each rod 22 between the collar 24 and sleeve 26, whereby to normally maintain' the latter in engagement with the collar 25. This arrangement permits the lift control rods '22 to thrust forward against the compression of springs 21 in the event that the tools 8 strike an obstruction in the ground, while at the same time permits said rods to be mechanically urged in a forward direction, to lift the tools to the inoperative position clear of the ground, by means of the following structural arrangement:

A cross shaft 28 extends above the tractor frame between the side beams 6 ahead of the operators seat 29. The cross shaft 28 is supported by upstanding plates 38 fixed in connection with the side beams `6. i

Parallel, radial levers 3I are fixed on and depend from the ends of the cross shaft 28, and at their lower ends the levers 3I are each fitted with a clevis 32 straddling, and pivotally connected to, the corresponding sleeve 26.

An elongated hand lever 33 is fixed on, andupstands fromthe cross shaft 28 adjacent one of the plates 30. The hand lever 33 includes a releasable, spring-pressed latch unit 34 which cooperates with a notched quadrant 35 on said one plate 30, whereby the lever 33 may be latched in any selected position of adjustment.

Upon swinging of the hand lever 33 in a rearward direction, the radial levers 3| swing forwardly, imparting corresponding movement to the lift control rods 22. This in turn rotates the bellcranks I1 in a clockwise direction, lifting the suspension links 2l andthe tool bar 1. The operator thus can easily and effectively regulate the depth of penetration of the tools 8 in the ground, or can swing said tools wholly clear of the ground to an inoperative or transport position.

By reason of the independent mounting of each bellcrank I1 on the cross shaft I4, by means of the separately rotatable .bearing sleeves I8, a certain floating action of each draft beam I is attained without undue strain on the described lift assembly. In otherwords, when one end or the other-of the tool bar 1 is raised above its 4 normal adjusted position, as by the adjacent tools being pushed up by an obstruction or hard soil. the corresponding bellcrank I1 can rotate independently, and the connected rod then works against its spring 21; all without affecting the other bellcrank and rod. This is an advantageous feature, and contributes greatly to the flexibility and effectiveness of the device.

One of the lift control rods 22 has a turnbuckle 22a interposed thereon; adjustment of such turnbuckle being for the purpose of leveling the tool bar 1 whenever necessary.

The draft beams I are detachable from the brackets 5 and suspension links 2| so that the assembly of said beams, the tool bar 1, and the supported tools may be readily and quickly removed for replacement of another such assembly carrying a different type of tool.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills vthe objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new a'n'd useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

In an implement lift and draft unit forwheel tractors including a transversely extending tool bar adapted to be disposed to the rear of the tractor, means arranged to mount said tool bar in draft connection with the tractor and for vertical adjustment, and a lift assembly mounted on the tractor and connected to the tool bar; said lift assembly including a cross shaft disposed above the tool bar, transversely spaced bearing arms adapted to mount the cross shaft in connection with the tractor, a pair of transversely spaced bellcranks having bearing sleeves independently rotatably mounted on the cross shaft between the bearing arms, forwardly yieldable links connecting the' bellcranks and tool bar, and control means to swing the bellcranks; the bellcranks including elongated bearing sleeves engaging the shaft and together extending' from end to end of the shaft' between the bellcranks properly spaced transversely and providing elongated bearing areas between the shaft and-bellcranks.

MANUEL DE BAIROS.

RErusittmoizsV CITED The following references are of -record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Lewis Mar. 27, 1951 

